Day 86 of 175 – ESTEBAN

Thank you to Amalia Perez, I now have a photo of my running buddy today.

Today I ran for Esteban. By the way, Trish Snider Kline SWEARS that if we had ever had a baby boy, she would have named him Esteban (she LOVES that name). Esteban Kline…that would have turned some heads.

I ran today for Esteban because it was on this day, January 29, 2015 that he was diagnosed with leukemia. He was 2 years and 6 months old then.

Now Esteban is 4 years old and he is about halfway through his 3 year treatment program.

He has gone through many procedures, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, platelets transfusions, chemotherapy in his spine, and he struggled with his eating.

Chemotherapy really took a hit on his taste buds therefore he has been on a roller coaster ride with his weight, but currently he is at his “healthiest” weight since diagnosis.

Sometimes lost in all of the concern for the patient, and rightfully so, is the affect and impact the child’s diagnosis has on the family. This is how Esteban’s mom describes the impact his leukemia diagnosis and battle has had on her life. Sadly, this is all too familiar.

“As his mom, some of the impacts it’s had, of course emotional distress. I had to quit school to attend to him 24/7, seeing your child go through this has given me anxiety & panic attacks, mostly because I have to process any activity in a way to see if it would affect him in any way.

But, as many obstacles his diagnosis may have brought, I believe in my heart that things happen for a reason, whatever reason that may be, (I may never be able to understand it) we love our baby with all our heart & the adjustments we’ve done for him, we wouldn’t change it for anything, we are blessed he has been doing very well with his treatment.”

Hey Esteban, you were an INCREDIBLE wingman with me today. We ran the USA Fit Marathon (just the half, buddy), but, we set a personal best time for 13.1 miles.

My very first half-marathon, in October, 2006, I ran in 1:48:++. Today, with perfect weather, a fast course and Esteban on my mind, we ran a 1:44:19 (7:53 pace).

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About Snowdrop Foundation

Snowdrop Foundation is dedicated to assisting patients and families at Texas Children’s Cancer Center through funding for continued research to eliminate childhood cancer and scholarships for college bound pediatric cancer patients and survivors. [Read More...]